Envelop-opener.



W. L. BARBER. ENVBLOP OPENER.-

APPLIcATIoN FILED ocT. 9, 190s.

' Patented sept. 14,1909.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIoE.

WILLIAM L. BARBER, OF PROVIDENCE, .RI-IODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO GEORGE W.

DOVER, 0F PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND. i

ENvELoP-OPENER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM L. BARBER,

' a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Envelop- Openers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to devices for opening envelops and its obj ect is to simplify and improve the construction of such devices in the manner hereinafter set forth.

The drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification illustrate several embodiments of my improved envelop opener, but it will be understood that I do not limit myself to the particular devices shown inasmuch as many modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention.

In the drawings-Figure 1 is a side view of one form of my envelop opener, Fig. 2 is an end view thereof and Fig. 3 is a central section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4l is a side view partly in section of a modification and Fig. 5 is an end view thereof partly in section. Fig. 6 is a side view of a further modification, certain parts being shown in section, and Fig. 7 is a side view of the device shown in Fig. 6 turned through an angle of ninety degrees.

In the gures, A represents a casing cast or stamped from any suitable material and of convenient shape for handling. As shown in Figs. l to 5, the casing is semi-circular in shape and each side thereof is provided with a corrugated circular hole J having a radius slightly smaller than that of the inner curved portion of the cutters. The holes J facilitate the removal of the cutters and assist the user of the device in picking the same up from a desk or other flat surface. Secured within said casing are two oppositely disposed cutting members B each terminating in a non-cutting point portion B projecting from said casing and constructed and arranged to be inserted under the flap of an envelop to be opened and each having a cutting portion on its inner curved edge as shown at B". While thecutting members may be secured to the casing in a variety of ways, I have shown in Figs. l to 5 inclusive, a mode of securing said members to the casing whereby the securing means constitute a guide for the envelop to be Specicaton of Letters Patent. Patnted Sept, 14, 1909, Application filed october e, 1908.

Serial No. 456,901.

opened when the cutter' is passed under the flap thereof. In Figs. l, 2 and 3, each cutting member terminates at its inner end in an outwardly extending spring-portion B which serves to press the stud D passing through the Washer C and a cutting member into a hole in the side of the casing. Inasmuch as the cutting members are loosely riveted together at E or otherwise suitably hinged, the construction above described permits the ready removal of the cutters from the casing for sharpening.

In Figs. 4t and 5, the means employed for removably securing the cutters to the casing consist of the threaded bushing C which passes through a cutter and takes the screw F which enters said bushing from a hole in the side of the casing.

It is obvious that the construction above described and shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, may be embodied in a variety of devices, such, for example, as watch-charms, etc., and in Figs. 6 and 7 I have shown a modification in which the envelop-opener may be placed on the end of a pencil H.

In Figs. 6 and 7 the cutting members B B are suitabl secured to a cap constructed to be carried by the end of a pencil and a suitably shaped guide C may be arranged between said cutting members and secured fthereto or to the casing A.

In using the envelop opener, the non-cutting point portion B is inserted under the flap of the envelop to be opened at the corner thereof, thereby bringing the folded portion of the paper in contact with one of the cutting portions B", and the device is then drawn to the end of the envelop, the members C C or C serving as guides to maintain the folded portion of the paper in contact with the cutting edge of the device, and thereby preventing the cutting members from entering the envelop far enou h to cut the inclosure.

I aim:

l. An envelop opener comprising a casing and two oppositely disposed curved cutting members secured therein, each cutting member having a cutting portion on its inner curved edge and terminating in a non-out ting point portion projecting from said casing and constructed and arranged to be inserted under the Hap of the envelop to be opened.

2. An envelop opener comprising a casing,

`ting portion on its inner Curved edge' and kprojecting from said casing and constructed In testimony whereof, I have hereunto.

terminating in a nonecuttng point portion and arranged to be inserted under the a 15 to be opened, and means for securing sai cutting members 1n said 'casing7 said meansV forming a guide for .the envelop. Y

subscribed my name this 6th dav of Oct. 20 1908.

VILLIAM L. BARBER.

l/Vtnesses:

HonATIo E. BELLoWs, GEORGE DooN. 

